River stage
Portland, Willamette River
- River level
- 2.37 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.49 ft
- Recent high
- 5.58 ft
- Recent low
- 1.62 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS PRTO3
- 30-day change
- -1.54 ft
- Average
- 3.36 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 33.00 ft
In brief
The Willamette River at Portland, OR read 2.37 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 14.63 ft below action stage. That is 1.54 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge PRTO3
Water 63 °F (17 °C) · 5 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33.00 ft | 1894-06-07 |
| 2 | 30.00 ft | 1948-06-01 |
| 3 | 30.00 ft | 1948-06-14 |
| 4 | 29.80 ft | 1964-12-25 |
| 5 | 28.70 ft | 1890-02-06 |
| 6 | 28.55 ft | 1996-02-09 |
| 7 | 28.20 ft | 1876-06-24 |
| 8 | 27.30 ft | 1880-07-01 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 17.00 ft
expect flooding of some low spots of trails along the west and east banks of the Willamette in and near downtown Portland.
- 18.00 ft
expect minor flooding of localized areas along the lower willamette. Flooding is mainly confined to the islands on the willamette river from oregon city to the confluence with the columbia.
- 22.00 ft
expect minor localized flooding along the Willamette from Oregon City to the confluence with the Columbia.
- 24.00 ft
expect localized flooding in the Northwest Portland industrial area.
- 26.00 ft
expect flooding of numerous structures along the Willamette river from Oregon city to the confluence with the Columbia.
- 27.00 ft
expect flooding of Front Street near the Burnside Bridge.
- 28.80 ft
expect the river level to reach the top of the lowest point of the downtown Portland sea-wall. Flooding of some portions of Waterfront Park is possible at this and higher stages.
- 30.00 ft
expect flooding of downtown Portland from Park Ave east to the Willamette and north of Burnside. Historically, Union Station begins to flood at this point and rail traffic will likely be impacted. Expect flooding of Oaks Park, along with moorages and industrial areas from Oregon City through downtown Portland into industrial NW Portland.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Willamette River flooding at Portland?
No. The Willamette River at Portland is at 2.37 ft, 14.63 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Portland?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 17 ft, minor flooding 18 ft, moderate flooding 24 ft and major flooding 28 ft.
What is the highest the Willamette River has been at Portland?
The highest crest on record is 33.0 ft, on 1894-06-07.
Is the Willamette River high or low right now at Portland?
At 2.37 ft it is higher than 13% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Portland, Willamette River?
The water temperature at Portland, Willamette River is 63 °F (17.3 °C), measured 6:30 pm by USGS, which is 5 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has fallen 0.6 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge PRTO3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 14211720). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.